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Statement in Open Court in Sasha Wass QC libel claim

Publisher apologises and agrees to pay substantial damages

On 12 June 2018 an agreed Statement in Open Court was read before Mr Justice Nicklin in which Associated Newspapers Ltd apologised for an article it published in October 2016 in the Mail on Sunday and on the newspaper’s website about Sasha Wass QC.

The article related to confiscation proceedings against a convicted fraudster, Bhadresh Gohil, following a trial prosecuted by Ms Wass. It alleged that Ms Wass was “facing professional ruin” because of her attempts to bury evidence that police officers responsible for the investigation and prosecution of Mr Gohil (which resulted in his conviction at which Ms Wass had been prosecuting counsel) had taken bribes.

The Article also suggested that Ms Wass buried evidence of police corruption, including by backing baseless criminal charges against Mr Gohil for perverting the course of justice when in fact she knew him to be an innocent whistle-blower, when in fact he was anything but; that Ms Wass had deliberately lied to the Court of Appeal; and that Ms Wass was aware that evidence that had been improperly tampered with was being placed before the Court of Appeal.

In recognition of the falsity of the allegations made against her, Associated Newspapers has agreed to publish a full and prominent apology in the Mail on Sunday and on MailOnline and to pay Ms Wass substantial libel damages, as well as her legal costs. Damages are to be assessed by the Court at a later date.